WATERLOO - The story of his birth has been told and retold for generations. In sermons and in carols. Pageants, storybooks, even movies tell about a manger, lowly shepherds and a great star over Bethlehem.

The birth of Jesus and events surrounding his arrival 2,000-some years ago will soon be brought to life on the big screen. "The Nativity Story," produced by New Line Cinema, comes to theaters in time to usher in the Christmas season.

Cedar Valley viewers can catch the film when it opens at Crossroads and College Square theaters Friday.

The Rev. Mitchell Smith of Trinity Episcopal Church in Waterloo has read up on the motion picture and viewed video clips online. Smith said it appears movie-makers have tried to stay true to the Gospels and tell a positive story.

"It's the first movie ever to be premiered at the Vatican," he added. "That will say something right there."

Parishioners at Trinity plan to attend the movie as a church to help focus on what, for Christians, is the meaning of Christmas. Smith hopes the film prompts conversation.

He also senses impressive cinematography.

"It looks stunning," Smith said.

Web sites dedicated to the film state movie-makers strove to be consistent with accounts of Christ's birth found in Gospels Matthew and Luke. Writer Mike Rich ("The Rookie," "Finding Forrester") and director Catherine Hardwicke ("Lords of Dogtown," "Thirteen") said they relied on historians and theologians to learn about the cultural, social, economic, political and religious climate and tensions of the day.

Yet unlike past film efforts, "The Nativity Story" focuses on the character development of Mary and Joseph. This movie explores how the famous couple might have reacted to life-altering events. A soon-to-be-married teenage girl told by an angel that she is to deliver the son of God is drama-laden material. And how might her fiance react to the unexpected pregnancy and public shame?

Allowing religious icons to portray emotions of fear and doubt may be disagreeable to some audiences, said Kenneth Atkinson, an associate professor of religion and philosophy at the University of Northern Iowa. Though the central characters also exhibit faith and obedience.

Smith sees a chance for often-revered figures to inspire hope and bravery. Smith looks forward to seeing how the movie handles the character of Joseph. So very little is known about the righteous man who stood by and supported Mary through a controversial pregnancy, he said.

Placing role models on too high of a pedestal can create a defeatist attitude, he added.

"We tend to take all of our great people in history and make them seem so unattainable … whether it's a Dr. Martin Luther King or a Gandhi or a Mary and a Joseph," Smith said. "We seem to create bigger-than-life individuals."

The Vatican offered it's stamp of approval after Sunday's premiere.

The movie takes artistic liberties in other ways, Atkinson added. Since the Bible is silent on what actually happened on the trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem and other details, movie-makers also had to invent dialogue and action, he said.

To the degree that he is familiar with the film, Atkinson is comfortable with writers using their imagination and creativity to fill in holes for the sake of the story. As long as viewers understand the drama isn't taken straight from Scripture.

"I would say it's a story inspired by the New Testament," Atkinson said.

Film-makers borrowed sites used to shoot Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and "Gladiator." To get the feel of turn-of-the-century Bethlehem and Nazareth, "The Nativity Story" was filmed in Matera, Italy, and Ouarzazate, Morocco.

Atkinson appreciates that the film draws together an international cast. Past Biblical movies inaccurately cast Caucasian actors and actresses to portray Middle Eastern characters, he said.

The cast includes Oscar-nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes as Mary ("Whale Rider") and Oscar Issac as Joseph. Shohreh Aghdashloo ("House of Sand and Fog") plays the role of Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist.

Cedar Valley bookstores are already selling film-related merchandise. Wanda Bailey, co-owner of Wiley's Christian Book Store, said a study guide and devotional written in correlation with "The Nativity Story" are popular.

Although some in the faith community are looking forward to the Christmas movie, films dubbed as religious and family friendly don't always add up at the box office.

Recently, the cinematic story of the Bible's Queen Esther, "One Night with the King," failed to draw numbers to brag about, said Chad Souder, manager of Crossroads 12. However, thousands flocked to see Gibson's controversial film about Christ's death and resurrection.

Souder is rooting for "The Nativity Story" and treats it as he would any other film.

"We hope it does business. We hope it is a well-made movie," Souder said.

Kevin Briden, manager of Family Christian Stores in Waterloo, thinks people looking for an alternative to commercialism might find solace in the familiar story. He will likely take his family to see this nativity.

"I think a lot of people, they are just craving decent entertainment and decent movies," Briden said.

Contact Karen Heinselman at (319) 291-1581 or karen.heinselman@wcfcourier.com.

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What: "The Nativity Story," a New Line Cinema release, tells the story of the journey of Mary and Joseph as they grapple with being chosen by God as the parents of the Messiah. The famous couple journeys to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus is celebrated by shepherds and Magi from the east.

Where: Crossroads and College Square theaters

When: the movie opens on Friday

Rating: PG for some violent content

Running time: 93 minutes

For more information, go online at www.thenativitystory.com or at www.nativityresources.com.